THE ADAGE that age is just a number was highlighted repeatedly when scores of senior athletes collected multiple awards from the 12th National Senior Games at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre last Saturday night.
With an insightful message from keynote speaker Senator Professor Henry Fraser, the vintage champions strutted to the podium to receive the spoils of their victories. Heading the list would have been the top female and male competitors, Shirley Harper, Kathy Harper-Hall and Victor Young.
Harper-Hall (75-79), who was absent from the ceremony, had gained 50 points, the same as Harper (65-69) with both breaking records in five events. They both snatched gold in the 50 metres, 100m, 200m, 400m and in the standing long jump to also earn three years free membership with BARP.
The consummate showman Young earned 46 points in the 75-79 age group while taking silver in the 50m, silver in the 100m and gold in the 200m, 400m and in the 5-K. Young received dinner for two at Crystal Cover by Elegant Hotels.
Senator Fraser told the audience that the important thing in life was to get the balance right . . . “physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being”.
“We’ve talked physical and mental, but help your fellow man . . . to serve is to love, and seek God, because a life without God is like an unsharpened pencil . . . there’s no point . . . and each aspect of well-being promotes the other.”
With the awardees and audience including Steven Blackett, Minister of Social Care, responding positively to the suggestion of achieving happiness through laughter, Senator Fraser said, “Laugh, because laughter is the best medicine. My version of the (author) Stephen Covey mantra is the seven Ls, learn to live, laugh, love life and leave a legacy.”
Blackett, as well as Malyssa Coles of main sponsor Stanfeld Scott, presented trophies and gift baskets to the category winners.
The category female winners were: Gayle Headley, 40-44; Valerie King, 45-49; Angela Jackson, 50-54, Ainsley Lovell, 55-59, Pearl Yearwood, 60-64, Harper, 65-69, June Benjamin, 70-74; Harper Hall, 75-79 and Doriel Green, 80-84.
The category male winners were: Lennox Ellis, 40-44; Bradley Broomes, 45-49; Atherley Burrowes, 50-54; Trevor Spooner, 55-59; Melchoir Alleyne, 60-64; Stephen Bowen, 65-69; Claredon Ward, 70-74; Victor Young, 75-79.
(KB)

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